New York Times high-flyer Yasmin Namini has been named as the first speaker for The Newspaper Works’ Future Forum.

The event – formerly the PANPA Future Forum – is being held in Sydney venue The Ivy & Establishment in George Street on August 20-21.

Namini will speak on the forum theme of ‘Get closer’. She is currently senior vice president and chief consumer officer of The New York Times, following an extensive newspaper career which began in 1984 when she joined the paper as a single-copy sales rep. She spent some years with the group’s New England Media Group in consumer marketing and circulation roles, then rejoined the Times in 2006 as senior vice-president of circulation. She has a degree in psychology and a Masters degree in applied statistics from Villanova University in Philadelphia. She is also a member of the INMA board of directors.

Future Forum organiser Simone Goldstein promises influential thought leaders, global innovators and accredited trainers over the two-day agenda.

“Highlights will include other high profile speakers, interactive bootcamps and challenging panel discussions.”

The event will also reprise last year’s panel discussion with the chief executives of Australia’s four leading publishing companies.

More than 700 delegates including publishers, printers, suppliers, editors, photographers, journalists, sales and marketing executives are expected to attend. The two-day conference covers management, editorial, advertising, marketing and technical areas in a plenary session, and also includes sessions focusing on sales, journalism, print and logistics

For more information, contact simonegoldstein@thenewspaperworks.com.au